I'm Such a Bad Daughter!

Crap! My mother's birthday was yesterday.

In truth, I really did not "forget" her birthday. I did call her shortly after JD departed. I got her answering machine, and I was not expecting her to not be at home. Honestly, I was momentarily stunned. Should I leave a message? What type of message? A simple, cheerful "Hi! Happy Birthday Mom!" or should I belt out a stirring rendition of the Birthday song? In Spanish even....

Instead, I simply decided to hang up and call her on my way back from rehearsal. Yeah...you know how this story goes, don't ya? Been there yourself? Yep, I totally forgot to call. And now she's out of town for a week and a half!

I am such a bad, bad daughter.....

Tuesday

I had an early wake-up call this morning. (Well, early for me, as of late. No reason to get up with the sun if you've no job, right?) A very good friend of mine, JD, was in town and wanted to know if I was interested in getting together to catch up our perspective lives. I mumbled a sleepy "Sure." and asked what time. My door bell rang, right on cue. I threw on firecracker boxer shorts, my Miss Firecracker t-shirt and red flip flops (nothing wrong with a little self promotion is there?) and we headed for coffee at Casanova's.

Later, after a shower and proper clothing, we then checked out The Lake House. It's very sweet and romantic (your typical "chick" flick), if you don't think about the plot. If you even put one moment's thought into the storyline, you will ruin the essence of the film. My advice is to simply watch, and for godsakes, Don't Think!

JD and I had a lovely day, and I was forgiving that he woke me so early, even though I lost about an hour and 45 minutes of beauty sleep. He will be very busy with July 4th festivities, and, based on the "catching up" part of our coffee conversation, I suspect there are some challenging hurdles in his immediate future. Still, it was great hanging with him!

Ken wasn't at rehearsal tonight because he is actually going through with auditions for Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical. I just gotta say that he has much bigger balls than I do. (Wait...what?)

The Big Terrible Frog!

Last night, after dropping Mallorie off at Cotton Patch Gospel, I decided to take Cade to see "A Year With Frog and Toad" at Theatre Alliance. The show was memorable for both of us, but for different reasons.

As I was not quite sure what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really enjoyed the show. The show is based on the kid's book, but I really got involved in the story. Credit for that goes directly to the fabulous actors. Tim Brown and Mark Armstrong, who played Frog and Toad respectively, were wonderful! My absolute favorite character was Turtle played by Emily Mark. She was dancing and singing to one number (about Toad's bathing suit) with such energy, and she never lost a beat. She was absolutely fabulous! I was very impressed with the production.


For the most part, Cade enjoyed the show. He was very empathetic upon learning that Toad had never received any mail. (Cade yelled out that he would send some to him.) During the second Act, Frog tells Toad the story of the "Big Terrible Frog". Right on cue a BIG FROG with RED eyes appears in the doorway, filling it completely. The frog's arms are waving up and down and smoke is coming out from all around. Cade decided right then and there that he wanted to go home.

We did stay for the whole show, though Cade would look over his shoulder for the big terrible frog. As I knew everyone in the cast and crew, I took Cade on stage and found Jeff, who designed the big terrible frog. He took Cade backstage to explain the frog was really chicken wire and paper and that he and David were the ones who moved his arms. Cade still didn't want to go near the frog!

As you can see, the cast did talk Cade into taking a picture with them. Upon seeing his picture on the fridge this morning, Cade looked over his shoulder to make sure there was no big terrible frog behind him!

Open Season Pics

I'm Not a Nurse

We had a typical Thursday night performance. I had some difficulty getting back into character. Eric noticed too. Apparently my Jersey accent was just a tad bit off. So, I think I'll use the accent all day at work tomorrow! (Hey, it's not like they are going to fire me!)

In this pic, Alice is explaining to Christian that "I'm not a nurse. I'm an in-home health care worker."

Southern Jersey Charm

Tonight at "Firecracker" rehearsal, Randy asked me if I could do a Southern Belle accent, you know the kind,voice just dripping with schooled Southern charm. I told him I certainly could, but he'd have to wait until next week. In "Open Season" I use a New Jersey accent and don't want to go back to the show mixing up my accents. (There is one particular line that I find very hard to deliver in a Jersey accent. It usually comes out sounding very Southern!)

Anyway, Thursday performance tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. I've missed the cast and Eric!

Read Thru, The Miss Firecracker Contest

Ken is running spotlight for Theatre Alliance's "A Year with Frog and Toad" so he wasn't at read thru tonight. But the rest of the cast was:
Abby Cockman is Carnelle
Libby Maddox is Popeye (she was really good at callbacks)
Megan Hoffman is Tessy (she was also great at callbacks; very versatile)
Robbie Spencer is Mac Sam

I'm feeling a bit "out of the club". Abby and Libby are drama teachers, and Robbie graduated with Randy from UNCG. Megan is currently a student at UNCG having just changed her major from music to theater. Ken also has a background in theater; he directed several shows in college. So I'm the only one who never studied theater at an institute of higher learning. I just hope I can hold my own.

Auditions, The Miss Firecracker Contest

Well actually, today was callbacks for "Miss Firecracker". Auditions were this past Tuesday and Wednesday, but since I was in tech, Randy agreed to let me read at callbacks. So Ken and I rode together to Greensboro.

Ken was the only guy at callbacks, which is a very good omen. Ken is a great actor, so I've no doubt that he will get Delmount; he read very well for the part. I read for the part of Elain. (Delmount's sister.) There was one other woman that read for Elain. She was okay, just a little stiff. Randy said he had seen enough and could cast today and let everyone know.

Just a little bit ago, Randy called and offered me the part of Elain. I accepted. I just hung up with Ken. He was offered the part of Delmount. So,this will be the 3rd show Ken and I have done together, and I'm continuing my streak of jumping from production of one show into rehearsals for another one.

Okay now to relax before the second performance of "Open Season"......

Opening Night, Open Season

Last night's "Who will play the part of Christian?" only added to my usual Opening Night jitters. I took the day off from work and got a few extra zzzzz's this morning. Since I usually am not able to eat dinner before a show, I decided to breakfast at my favorite breakfast joint....Mr. Waffle. (I figured the two scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns-because I do not do grits-and pecan waffle with coffee would sustain me for the day.) Then I spent the rest of the day relaxing. Oh, and I received a wonderful, and much needed, massage.

We all got calls around 5pm advising that Chad had recovered enough and would remain our Christian. I was very happy to see him.

Opening went very well and we had a nice sized house. They were a very responsive audience. I was a bit nervous, but as soon as I spoke my first line, I was okay. I even got a few laughs. (Who knew an in-home health care worker from Jersey could be funny?!)

We were supposed to have the cast party at Jim's house, but it was changed earlier in the week. The Opening Night cast party was in the scene shop. There was food galore and specialty brewed beer. Eric (our makeup guy) and Ryan (our costumer) were absolutely hilarious! I hung out with them and had so much fun! I laughed so hard my sides started hurting.

Now I've got to take this horrible stage makeup, that has been absolutely CAKED on, off. This may keep me up for another few hours!

Final Dress Canceled, Open Season

This afternoon we all got calls from Elizabeth, our stage manager. Chad is sick. He wasn't well enough for final dress tonight, and there's a very real chance that he won't be well enough to do the performances. A Little Theatre regular, Mark Boynton, was there tonight to assume the role of Christian, should it become necessary. So we canceled the final dress audience and did a walk/run-thru to get Mark familiar with the blocking. I have to hand it to Mark. He's very brave to be coming in this late in the game. Most likely he'll have to carry the script during the first weekend of performances. But we've been told he is a quick study and should be off book for the second weekend.

I'm kinda bummed though. I've seen Chad in many Little Theatre productions and I think he is a wonderful actor. I was really looking forward to sharing the stage with him. Chad, I hope you get better!

That's The Beauty of Live Theatre

We finally worked costume changes into the show tonight. I have one quick change where I go from my pink SpongeBob Squarepants top and white pants (my "in-home health care worker" uniform) to a black dress and bolero jacket with black pumps. I made the change in time and Kelly and I began the scene. Unfortunately Chad's costume change didn't go so well and he was delayed in his arrival to the scene. No big deal, Kelly and I just began to improv to cover Chad's late entrance. It was so neat! We both just jumped into the improv, remaining in character. This is one of the reasons why I love working with Kelly. She automatically moved into "save the scene" mode and I was able to keep up with her. Ah, the beauty of live theatre where anything can, and will, go wrong. But it's giving actors, like Kelly, that can keep the performance moving.

Cue to Cue, Open Season

Okay, so color me very impressed. For those of you not familiar with theater lingo, cue to cue is the term used for setting light levels and marking the "cue line" for the lights to transition. Usually this is a long and drawn out process. But I have to hand it to Elizabeth, our wonderful stage manager. She kept the ball rolling, and we were out within 2 hours. Just to put her hard work into perspective, for other companies, I've sat for more than 4 hours (with nothing to do!) during a cue to cue. So kudos, Elizabeth! Rock on! By the way, if you haven't gotten your tickets, click below. http://www.littletheatreonline.com/index.htm

Graduate Congratulate

I like this picture of the two of us. I am a part of Hannah's past, she is part of my future, and together we are taking the present a day at a time.

I've just offered my congratulations, and expressed how proud I am of her. And Hannah confirmed that she will be going to Appalachian State University in the fall. Apple, tree.....

Hannah's Graduation

Hannah is smiling because her name has just been called. She is preparing, at that very moment, to step away from her (42) graduating sisters, and walk toward her college future.

I was very honored to be among family and friends who watched Hannah accept her High School diploma after 4 years at Salem Academy. I smiled as I watched Hannah scanning the crowd, mentally taking note of the people that had come to celebrate her milestone. I was proud to be a part of her day.

Never Too Late for The Diary of Anne Frank

I wish I had remembered this "Never Too Late" cast photo earlier! Five of us in this shot just closed "The Diary of Anne Frank."

(From left to right in the front row) Galen Harrison played Mr. Kraler, Dick Strohmeier was our wonderful Mr. Dussel, and Randall C. Morris was our director. (From right to left of the women in the second row) I'm in the green flowery dress and I portrayed Miep Gies. Marcia James was Edith Frank.

The lady in the blue flowery dress is the wonderfully talented Kelly Wallace. She and I are in "Open Season" playing Mallory Dupre and Alice Slade respectfully.

Really, the local acting community is not that big! I bet we could start playing our own Kevin Bacon game!

Final Performance, The Diary of Anne Frank

It's finally over, and I am so glad! Don't get me wrong, I liked the cast and crew of the show (except for a Friday night incident that I won't go into). But as I mentioned before, 3 weekends is one weekend too long, especially for a heavy drama. Luckily our Sunday matinee was a nice sized house, biggest of the run, so we were able to end on a good note.

During strike is when I usually begin to get a bit depressed. Tearing down a set is always kinda sad. For this closing, I'm not as depressed. Of course, most likely it's because I'm got another show that's headed to production. Come Monday night I'll be in rehearsal instead of sitting on my couch at home wondering what the heck I did with my "free time" before rehearsals began. Now I can devote full attention to "Open Season" which opens in two weeks!

Still Saying Goodbye

Three more departed Customer Relations yesterday. When I agreed to remain until June 16, I thought the toughest part of the job would be handling the phones. In reality, the actual handling of customer contacts, even phones, is okay. It's the Friday departures that are getting harder to take.

Someone asked me if I thought it would have been better if the West had stuck to a single "everyone has to leave now" date. I think the answer is yes, and no. On the one hand, we'd have only needed to say our goodbyes during that one, single day. Saying goodbye every week can be draining, not to mention the emotional impact of seeing more and more boxes packed and cubes deconstructed. But on the other hand, many of us remain in touch with those that left on the 28th. In that, we do update each other on "so-and-so" during elevator rides or smoke breaks. (Though you guys are gone, you certainly haven't been forgotten.)

Still I'm already gearing up for this Friday....

Performance, The Diary of Anne Frank

So begins the last weekend of this show. Every time I sign on for a 3 weekend show I end up with mental notes to never do one again. Three weekend performances are just a tad bit draining, some more than just a tad. By the time the 3rd weekend rolls around I've usually settled back into my non-rehearsal nighttime routine. (Real dinners, fun with the kids, and actually watching enough TV to contribute to co-worker conversations.) Energy is usually low the last weekend and today is no different for me. Oh, to be able to go home and veg on the couch with a glass of wine! I hope the audience is energized!

Wow! Look at the time. I really need to go and get my makeup on. I should be on my way to the Playhouse!

Anyway, if you haven't seen the show yet, you've got two more chances. 8pm tomorrow night and a 2pm matinee on Sunday.

Rehearsal, Open Season

Tonight Kelly, Chad and I will be working our scenes. Scene work is my favorite part of the rehearsal process. I love spending the time to really develop the characters and relationships that have been scripted.

I adore working with Jim. He's definitely an actor's director. He knows his stuff! Kelly and Chad are both wonderful to work with as well. Both are very talented and giving actors. I am very honored to be working with everyone.